Funny Women has been awarded £80,000 as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund (CRF). The fund will help Funny Women face the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure a sustainable future in which the not-for-profit organisation can continue to run and develop the Funny Women Awards programme and support its community outreach activity.
Funny Women is one of 1,385 cultural and creative organisations across the country receiving urgently needed support. £257million of investment has been announced today as part of the very first round of the Culture Recovery Fund grants programme being administered by Arts Council England. Further rounds of funding in the cultural and heritage sector are due to be announced over the coming weeks.
Created by Lynne Parker in 2002 in a bid to champion women in comedy, Funny Women has expanded to include a national annual competition with numerous categories, a website, workshops, live comedy shows, and more, all combining to create a thriving community. Last year Funny Women became a CIC to reflect the direction it has taken.
The 2020 Funny Women Awards, in their 17th year, went ahead despite the restrictions of lockdown and venue closures. The competition was run primarily online with two live streamed events to decide on and announce the five category winners.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: "This funding is a vital boost for the theatres, music venues, museums and cultural organisations that form the soul of our nation. It will protect these special places, save jobs and help the culture sector’s recovery.
"These places and projects are cultural beacons the length and breadth of the country. This unprecedented investment in the arts is proof this government is here for culture, with further support to come in the days and weeks ahead so that the culture sector can bounce back strongly."
Chair, Arts Council England, Sir Nicholas Serota, said: “Theatres, museums, galleries, dance companies and music venues bring joy to people and life to our cities, towns and villages. This life-changing funding will save thousands of cultural spaces loved by local communities and international audiences. Further funding is still to be announced and we are working hard to support our sector during these challenging times.”
Founder and CEO of Funny Women Lynne Parker said: " This is true affirmation for all the hard work our team have put in over the last six months to ensure that the 2020 Funny Women Awards took place and create a sustainable outreach programme for our community. Without this funding we would have been facing an uncertain future.
“Echoing the words of Sir Nicholas, we have a strong theatrical heritage here in the UK so I am particularly delighted to see comedy recognised as part of this and a significant cultural indicator - never have we needed humour and laughter so much."
